I've been a bit tardy with my blogging lately-still finding books in boxes around the house so my apologies for being a bit waylaid by other things. Therefore Some pics are the last few weeks combined. Above are examples of intriguing maps made by Aldeburgh Primary school children for arts week last week. These were inspired by the selection of books above which were shared with the lovely Barking and Dagenham teachers I met today. They all feature different worlds, many with maps at the beginning of the book. These are always worth studying in themselves (lots of Geography too) and often have interesting lettering to try out. It's also a chance to work big (if children want too) and find a space to draw out their own fantasy worlds (using up all the sugar paper colours you often don't want for anything else because they look a bit old and faded anyway!).

Just so you know I'm not going even more bonkers here is an introduction to OOGLIES on CBBC. I was glad there were some folk who DID know what I was talking about today THANK YOU.Ooglies are very silly but we all need a bit of very silly sometimes AND it's a way in to inventing new creatures-get a pen and draw some eyes on something and see what happens.You can also enter into this realm via the fantasy creatures you come across in not only Harry Potter but also, for example, The Spiderwick chronicles. Find a hag stone, take it in to school and IMAGINE what you could see through it. This leads nicely on to inventing creatures and imagining with the wonderful rhymes of John Hegley in 'Stanley's Stick'.There's also the detective mouse 'Hermelin' who responds to different messages requesting help by writing notes back on his typewriter-inspiring little notes around the classroom and replying to them I hope. 'Woooo' is a new picture book which is great to read aloud because it features all the sounds owls make with very distinctive illustrations. If you like 'Owl Babies' (who couldn't?) this one makes a great companion.

Very briefly whizzing through the pics, some of the books below are great ways 'in' to a topic or theme. Percy Jackson is a good way of making children curious about Ancient Greece and the gods and goddesses alluded to in so many films and fiction today-so there is a real purpose to knowing some of these basic myth 'stuff'. Laura Marlin I'm always talking about as she's a good role model and an interesting character. 'Itch' is another character who isn't a typical action hero but uses his fascination for chemical elements and chemistry in general in a very clever way.

Graphic novels and chapter books with funny illustrations come next +'The Phoenix Comic' which is well worth exploring for your school. As I said today that 'creating suspense' you get when you read a novel to children, the bit where there's a groan when it's the end of the day (yes it really does happen if you're reading a great story ...if you're not then why AREN"T YOU????) and you have to wait until the next day. Well I don't think that 'bit' occurs as much as it used to and, as a result, our children are not training themselves to hold info and remember those details. There's no reason why they can't but everything is so immediate it seems it's tricky to wait. So having a weekly comic is one way and another way is FREE - READ A CLASS BOOK TO YOUR CLASS EVERY SINGLE DAY and create more magical moments.

And finally ....I think one of the very first blogs on here was about the success of a picture book to draw the whole school in. That moment at the start of assembly when you look out to the back of the school hall with your Yr6s ready to really go into Yr7 (some of them already 'Kevin' like in 'Year 6itus' stances) and to the front with Reception and you start...there's silence in the right places, laughter, responses, enjoyment for all with such multi layered GOOD STORIES. I hope you find the same. HAPPY READING

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Sarah Gallagher

Avid reader, sometimes a headteacher AND founder of Story shack. A place where you can release your imagination and see where it takes you....readingwritingbook makingplayingbecause everyone deserves to imagine and create